Progress in ballooning tragedy investigation

A four-member investigation team has been making good progress in gathering evidence for the Transport Accident Investigation Commission’s inquiry into yesterday’s fatal balloon accident in the Wairarapa.

Investigators have:

· reviewed photography of the accident flight

· returned to make a further scene examination before the extraction of the deceased

· reviewed witness statements given to the Police and started follow-up interviews with key witnesses

· liaised with our colleague agency in the United Kingdom in case inquiries need to be made of the aircraft manufacturer

· obtained local weather data

Interviews and evidence gathering will continue around the Wairarapa over the next couple of days, the aircraft’s manuals and maintenance records are being secured, contact is being made with other ballooning operators, and a further detailed examination of the wreckage will be made on site once the deceased have been removed and before the wreckage is removed to secure storage.

The Commission is a standing Commission of Inquiry charged with investigating selected transport accidents from a safety-focused perspective with a view to explaining how an accident occurred, and the lessons and recommendations for change to improve transport safety that may be taken from it.

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